Pumpkin hurling record smashed

November 18, 2008|By Brian Bliss, HT Sports Assistant

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GAYLORD — Countdowns, projectiles whistling through the air and large objects shattering upon impact with the ground — what sounds like a science experiment gone wrong was actually the Gaylord High School (GHS) physics class doing its annual pumpkin launching project.

Each year, GHS teacher Theresea Collins assigns her physics class the task of building a catapult/trebuchet with the ability to launch various sized pumpkins.

With only one participating physics class in the school this year, just three launchers were tested. These three launchers, however, formed the most successful year of launching ever, according to Collins.

“This year’s launchers were by far the best I have ever seen,” Collins said. “Everyone did a wonderful job and were very successful.”

Two groups obliterated the previous record of 73 meters with launches of more than 100 meters while the third group had a very well-constructed launcher with consistent launches.

The group of Brian Bliss, Nate Hartmann, Nick Hansmann, Zach Rygwelski, Brian Alexander, Nick Wojtkowiak, Carlye Scheer and Stephanie Schmidt built one of the largest launchers ever and consistently threw 15- to 20-pound pumpkins 70 to 80 meters with numerous launches of well over 100 meters with the furthest throw going 114 meters.